Methods for wrapping a floral grouping

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for covering portions of an object having an outer peripheral surface with a sheet of material having an upper surface and a lower surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of the lower surface by wrapping the sheet of material about portions of the outer peripheral surface and positioning the sheet of material so that the pressure sensitive coating either contacts portions of the outer peripheral surface of the object and is bonded thereto or contacts overlapping portions of the sheet of material and is bonded to other adjacent portions of the sheet of material having the pressure sensitive coating thereon or overlapping portions of the sheet of material are bonded by the pressure sensitive adhesive.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 649,379 filedon Jan. 31, 1991, entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIALHAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638;which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 249,761, filed on Sep. 26,1988, entitled, METHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVINGPRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON, now abandoned; which was acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 239,083, filed on Jul. 13, 1988,entitled, ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,031; which isa continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 004,275, filed Jan. 5, 1987, entitled,ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182; which was acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 613,080, filed May 22, 1984, nowabandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to materials for wrappingobjects and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a sheetof material for covering portions of an object wherein a pressuresensitive adhesive is on a portion of the sheet of material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sheet of material constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section view of the sheet of material shown in FIG. 1 takensubstantially along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, but showing amodified sheet of material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a floral grouping having either thesheet of material shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the sheet of material shownin FIG. 3 wrapped about a portion thereof.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another modified sheet of materialconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the modified sheet of material shownin FIG. 5, taken substantially along the lines 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is another modified sheet of material constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the modified sheet of material shown inFIG. 7 taken substantially along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a flower pot having a floral groupingsupported or disposed therein with the sheet of material shown in FIG. 5wrapped about a portion of the flower pot and the floral grouping.

FIG. 10 is a view of another modified sheet of material constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial view of a package having either the sheet ofmaterial shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the sheet of material shown in FIG. 3wrapped about a portion of the package.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of another modified sheet of material.

FIG. 13 is a roll of material from which sheets of material constructedin accordance with the present invention may be obtained.

FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of a container holding a roll ofmaterial from which sheets of material constructed in accordance withthe present invention may be obtained.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of another container holding a roll ofmaterial from which sheets of material constructed in accordance withthe present invention may be obtained.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another container for holding a roll ofmaterial from which sheets of material constructed in accordance withthe present invention may be obtained.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the lower surface of another modified sheet ofmaterial constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of an Easter basket covered with thesheet of material shown in FIG. 17.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, shown thereinand designated by the general reference numeral 10 is a sheet ofmaterial constructed in accordance with the present invention. The sheetof material 10 has an upper surface 12, a lower surface 14, a first side16, and an opposed second side 18 spaced a distance from the first side16, a first end 20 and an opposed second end 22 spaced a distance fromthe first end 20. The sheet of material 10 shown in FIG. 1 is generallysquare or rectangular shaped; however, the sheet of material 10 could becircularly shaped or any other configuration desired in a particularapplication.

The sheet of material 10 is a relatively thin sheet of material having athickness in the range of from less than about 1.0 mils to about 2.5mils. The upper limit on the thickness may vary depending on the type ofmaterial. The upper limit on the thickness is set such that the materialretains sufficient flexibility and fold ability so that the materialeasily can be shaped by hand about the object to be covered. As apractical matter, the upper limit is about 20 mils. The sheet ofmaterial is constructed of any one of the materials selected from agroup of materials comprising paper, foil, cellophane or processedorganic polymer films or combinations thereof.

In one preferred embodiment, the sheet of material is constructed from arelatively thin film of a non-shape sustaining processed organic polymerfilm. The term "processed organic polymer film" as used herein means aman-made resin such as polypropolyene as opposed to naturally occurringresins such as cellophane. A processed organic polymer film isrelatively strong and not as readily subject to tearing (substantiallynon-tearable when used to cover portions of an object) as might be paperor foil. The processed organic polymer film is a substantially linearlylinked processed organic polymer film and is a synthetic linear chainorganic polymer where the carbon atoms are substantially linearlylinked. Such films are synthetic polymers formed or synthesized frommonomers. Further, a relatively substantially linearly linked processedorganic polymer film is virtually waterproof which may be desirable inmany applications which is not true of an untreated paper, for example,unless the paper is treated with a water resistant coating orimpregnated with a water resistant material or by laminating the paper.It also should be noted that some papers such as long fiber papers aresubstantially resistant to tearing (substantially non-tearable when usedto cover an object). In addition, a relatively thin film of asubstantially linearly linked processed organic polymer does notsubstantially deteriorate in sunlight.

A decorative pattern such as a solid color and/or an embossed pattern(not shown) and/or other decorative surface ornamentation is applied tothe upper and or lower surface 12 or 14 in one preferred embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, a pressure sensitive adhesive 24 is applied to theupper surface 12 of the sheet of material 10 and, in the embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pressure sensitive adhesive 24 coverssubstantially the entire upper surface 12 of the sheet of material 10,the thickness of the pressure sensitive adhesive 24 being greatlyexaggerated in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, the pressure sensitiveadhesive 24 may cover only preselected portions of the upper surface 12of the sheet of material. The pressure sensitive adhesive may be anysubstance, inorganic or organic, natural or synthetic, that is capableof bonding to other surfaces or to other surfaces coated with a likepressure sensitive adhesive. The tack level of the pressure sensitiveadhesive should be controlled in most applications so that the sheet ofmaterial does not destroy or substantially damage the object bondedthereto when removed from the object or does not destroy any decorativepattern which is applied to the upper and or lower surface 12 or 14 whenunbonded.

The term "pressure sensitive adhesive" as used herein includes thoseadhesives mentioned before and it is utilized herein to indicate anadhesive which is bondable by the application of a slight pressure suchas might be imposed by the hand of an individual for example, as opposedto those adhesive requiring chemical activators or heat to be bondable.Pressure sensitive adhesives and the controlling of the tack level ofsuch pressure sensitive adhesive are well known in the art and adetailed description of such pressure sensitive adhesives is not deemednecessary herein.

Embodiment of FIG. 3

Shown in FIG. 3 is a modified sheet of material 10a which is constructedexactly like the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 anddescribed in detail before, except the sheet of material 10a includes apressure sensitive adhesive 26 applied to the lower surface 14a of thesheet of material 10a in addition to the pressure sensitive adhesive 24aapplied to the upper surface 12a of the sheet of material 10a. Thepressure sensitive adhesive 26a is exactly like the pressure sensitiveadhesive 24 described before. In some applications, it may be desirableto have both the pressure sensitive adhesive 24a applied to the uppersurface 12a of the sheet of material 10a as well as the pressuresensitive adhesive 26 applied to the lower surface 14a of the sheet ofmaterial 10a, the thicknesses of the pressure sensitive adhesive 24a and26 being greatly exaggerated in FIG. 3. The pressure sensitive adhesive26, as shown in FIG. 3, substantially covers the entire lower surface14a of the sheet of material 12a, although it could be applied only toselected portions of the sheet of material.

Embodiment of FIG. 4

Shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 is one use of the sheet of materialshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the sheet of material 10a shown in FIG. 3. Afloral grouping 28 is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4 and the floralgrouping 28 generally has an upper end portion 30 and a lower endportion 32, the lower end portion 32 comprising mostly the stem portionof the flowers illustrated in FIG. 4 and the upper end portion 30 of thefloral grouping 28 comprising the flower end of the flowersdiagrammatically shown in FIG. 4. The term "floral grouping" as usedherein means arrangements of cut, fresh flowers, artificial flowers andother fresh and/or artificial plants and such arrangements may includeother secondary plants which add to the aesthetics of the overall floralgrouping.

The sheet of material 10 or 10a is wrapped about the lower end portion32 of the floral grouping 28 so portions of the sheet of materialoverlap and the overlapping portions are bonded together by contactingthe pressure sensitive adhesive 24 on the sheet of material 10 or 10awith adjacent overlapping portions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a bycontacting the pressure sensitive adhesive 24 and or 24a and 26 on theupper and lower surface 12 or 12a and 14 or 14a with adjacentoverlapping portions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a so that thesheet of material 10 or 10a substantially encompasses the lower endportion 32 of the floral grouping 28 and is secured thereabout by thebonding of the overlapping portions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a.

Utilizing the sheet of material 10 or 10a, when an individual purchasesthe floral grouping 28 such as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4, theseller simply takes the sheet of material 10 or 10a wraps the sheet ofmaterial 10 or 10a about the lower end portion 32 of the floral grouping28 and the sheet of material 10 or 10a is secured about the lower endportion 32 of the floral grouping 28 by the bonding of the overlappingportions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a as described before. Thus,the sheet of material 10 or 10a provides an easy and convenient meansfor wrapping the lower end portions 32 of the floral grouping 28 and,utilizing the sheet of material 10 or 10a, the sheet of material 10 or10a is secured in place wrapped about the lower end portion 32 of thefloral grouping 28 without requiring any additional means for securingthe sheet of material in the wrapped position about the lower endportion 32 of the floral grouping 28. The sheet of material 10 or 10apreferably is a foil, cellophane or a processed organic polymer film inthis application.

Embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6

Shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is the sheet of material 10 having a sheetextension 34 secured to the first end 20 thereof. More particularly, thesheet extension 34 includes an upper surface 36, a lower surface 38, afirst side 40, a second side 42, a first end 44 and a second end 46. Thesecond end 46 of the sheet extension 34 is secured to the first end 20of the sheet of material 10 and the second end 46 of the sheet extension34 extends substantially along the entire length of the first end of thesheet of material 10 generally between the first and the second sides 16and 18 of the sheet of material. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a line ofperforations 48 is formed along the connection between the second end 46of the sheet extension 34 and the first end 16 of the sheet of material10 for reasons which will be made more apparent below. The sheet ofmaterial 10 preferably has a decorative pattern (such as a color and/oran embossed pattern) and/or other decorative surface ornamentation onthe upper surface 12, and or the lower surface 14, as mentioned before.

A pressure sensitive adhesive 50 is applied to the upper surface 36 ofthe sheet extension 34. The pressure sensitive adhesive 50 extendsgenerally between the first side 40 and the second side 42 and extends adistance generally from the first end 44 of the sheet extension 34generally toward the second end 46. Although the pressure sensitiveadhesive 50 is shown in FIG. 5 applied only to the upper surface 36, itis should be noted that a similar pressure sensitive adhesive may beapplied to the lower surface 38 of the sheet extension 34 generallyopposite the pressure sensitive adhesive 50. Also, it should be notedthat the sheet of material 10a equally could be utilized in theembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8.

Shown in FIG. 6 is a modified of sheet of material 10b which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10, except the first andthe second sides 16b and 18b each are tapered inwardly generally fromthe first end 20b toward the second end 22b so the length of the firstend 20b generally between the first and the second sides 16b and 18b isgenerally longer than the length of the shorter second end 22b generallybetween the first and the second sides 16b and 18b.

A modified sheet extension 34b is connected to the first 20b of thesheet of material 10b. The sheet extension 34b is constructed exactlylike the sheet extension 34 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and described indetail before, except the first and the second sides 40b and 42b eachare tapered inwardly generally from the first end 44b toward the secondend 46b. When the sheet extension 34b is connected to the sheet ofmaterial 10b, the first side 16b of the sheet of material 10b isgenerally aligned with the first side 40b of the sheet extension 34b andthe taper of the first side 16b is substantially the same as the taperof the first side 40b so the first side 16ba and 40b are aligned andtaper inwardly generally from the first end 44b of the sheet extension34b generally toward the second end 22b of the sheet of material 10b sothe length of the first end 44b of the sheet extension 34b generallybetween the first and the second sides 42b and 44b is generally longerthan the length of the second end 22b of the sheet of material 10bgenerally between the first and the second sides 16b and 18b of thesheet of material 10b. A line of perforations 48b is formed along theconnection between the second end 46 of the sheet extension 34b and thefirst end 20b of the sheet of material 10b.

The pressure sensitive adhesive 50b is applied on the upper surface 36bgenerally near the first end 44b of the sheet extension 34b. Thepressure sensitive adhesive 50b extends generally between the first side40b and the second side 42b and extends a distance from the first end44b generally toward the second end 46b. Although the pressure sensitiveadhesive 50b is shown only on the upper surface 36b of the sheetextension 34b, a similar pressure sensitive adhesive strip may beapplied to the lower surface 38b of the sheet extension 34b generallyopposite the pressure sensitive adhesive 50b. Also, a modified sheet ofmaterial 10a could be utilized in lieu of the sheet of material 10 inthe embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Embodiment of FIG. 9

Shown in FIG. 9 is a flower pot 52 having a substantially closed lowerend 54, and an open upper end 56 and an outer peripheral surface 57. Theflower pot 52 is adapted to receive portions of a floral grouping withinan opening formed generally between the lower end 54 and the open upperend 56 and to support such a floral grouping with a portion of thefloral arrangement extending generally outwardly from the open upper end56. The term "floral grouping" as used in this context means a pottedplant or flower, although a flower pot could be utilized to hold cutfresh flowers or cut plants or artificial flowers if one so desired.

Flower pots of the type described before in connection with the flowerpot 52 are common and well known in the art and a detailed descriptionof such a flower pot is not deemed necessary herein.

Also, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 9 is a floral grouping 58 having anupper end portion 60 and a lower end portion (not shown in FIG. 9). Thefloral grouping 58 is similar to the floral grouping 28 described beforein connection with FIG. 4. However, the lower end portion of the floralgrouping 58 is disposed in the flower pot 52 and the flower pot 52together with the contents of the flower pot 52, such as soil or othersupport means, cooperates to support the floral grouping 58 in anupright position with the upper end portion 60 of the floral grouping 58extending outwardly from the open upper end 56 of the flower pot 52 andextending a distance generally above the open upper end 56 of the flowerpot 52.

Utilizing either the sheet of material 10 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 or thesheet of material 10b shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the individual places thesheet of material about the flower pot 52 so that the pressure sensitiveadhesive 24 or 24b on the upper surface 12 or 12b is disposed generallyadjacent the outer peripheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52 and theindividual wraps the sheet of material 10 or 10b about the outerperipheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52, the individual pressing thesheet of material 10 or 10b against the outer peripheral surface 57 sothat the pressure sensitive adhesive 24 or 24b contacts and bonds to theouter peripheral surface 57. The individual wraps the sheet of material10 or 10b about the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot 52and bonds the sheet of material 10 or 10b to the outer peripheralsurface 57 of the flower pot 52 by way of the pressure sensitiveadhesive 24a thereby bonding the sheet of material 10 or 10 b to theouter peripheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52. The sheet of material10 or 10b has a width extending generally between the first end and thesecond end so that the sheet of material extends 10 or 10b about theentire outer peripheral surface 57 and generally between the closedlower end 54 and the open upper end 56 of the flower pot 52, the line ofperforations 48 or 48b being disposed generally adjacent or extending adistance generally above the open upper end 56 of the flower pot 52 whenthe sheet of material 10 or 10b has been wrapped about the outerperipheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52. After the sheet of material10a has been wrapped about and bonded to the outer peripheral surface 57of the flower pot 52, the sheet extension 34 or 34b extends a distanceabove the open upper end 56 of the flower pot 52 and the height of thesheet extension 34 or 34b extending generally between the first end 44or 44b and the second end 46 or 46b is sufficient so that the sheetextension 34 or 34b extends generally above the upper end portion 60 ofthe floral grouping 58. The individual then wraps the sheet extension 34or 34b generally about the upper end portion 60 of the floral grouping58, portions of the first end 44 or 44b of the sheet extension 34 or 34bbeing overlapped. The individual then secures the first end 44 or 44b ina sealed or closed position by bonding the overlapping portions of thefirst end 44 or 44b of the sheet extension 34 or 34b with the bondingoccurring as a result of the pressure sensitive adhesive 50 or 50bcontacting the adjacent overlapping portions of the sheet extension 34or 34b generally near the first end 44 or 44b. In this position of thesheet of material 10 or 10b with the sheet extension 34 or 34b attachedthereto, the sheet extension 34 or 34b substantially encompasses andsurrounds the upper end portion 60 of the floral grouping 58.

The sheet of material 10 or 10b preferably includes a decorativepattern, as mentioned before, and thus the outer peripheral surface 57of the flower pot 52 substantially is covered with a decorative coveringprovided by the sheet of material 10 or 10b. Further, in the assembledposition of the sheet of material 10 or 10b about the outer peripheralsurface 57 of the flower pot 52, the floral grouping 58 remainsprotected since the floral grouping 58 is covered by the sheet extension34 or 34b, yet the floral grouping 58 remains substantially exposed fordisplaying the floral grouping 58 since the sheet extension 34 or 34bsubstantially is clear (see through).

The sheet extension 34 or 34b can be removed from the sheet of material10 or 10b attached thereto by an individual purchaser by breaking thebond at the first end 44 or 44b formed by the pressure sensitiveadhesive 50 or 50b and tearing the sheet extension 34 or 34b from thesheet of material 10 or 10b connected thereto generally along the lineof perforations 48 or 48b. After the sheet extension 34 or 34b has beenremoved from the sheet of material 10 or 10b connected thereto, thesheet of material 10 or 10b remains bonded or connected to the outerperipheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52 to provide a decorativecovering for the flower pot 52.

The sheet extension 34 or 34b preferably is constructed from the samematerials mentioned before with respect to the sheet of material 10, 10aor 10b and preferably, the sheet extension 34 or 34b and the sheet ofmaterial are constructed of the processed organic polymer film, althoughthe sheet of material also could be constructed of a foil or cellophaneor paper. Thus, the sheet of material 10 or 10b substantially iswaterproof, thereby preventing leakage from the flower pot 52 fromescaping through the sheet of material 10 or 10b. Further, since thesheet extension 34 or 34b is substantially is waterproof, the sheetextension 34 or 34b cooperates to retain moisture within the areaenclosed by the sheet extension 34 or 34b, the sheet extension 34 or 34bcooperating with the sheet of material 10 or 10b to retain moisturethereby cooperating to retain the freshness of the floral grouping whenthe floral grouping consist of either fresh cut flowers or fresh growingflowers.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the sheet ofmaterial 10 or 10b has a height generally between the first end 20a or20b and the second end 22a or 22b sufficient so that a portion of thesheet of material generally near the second end 22 or 22b can be wrappedabout the closed lower end 54 of the flower pot 52, the closed lower end54 comprising a portion of the outer peripheral surface 57 of the flowerpot 52. In this embodiment, the sheet of material 10 or 10b initially isplaced adjacent a portion of the outer peripheral surface 57 of theflower pot 52 with the first end 20 or 20b disposed generally near theopen upper end 56 of the flower pot 52 and the second end 22 or 22b ofthe sheet of the material 10 or 10b extending a distance beyond theclosed lower end 54 of the flower pot 52. The sheet of material 10 or10b is then wrapped about the outer peripheral surface 57 with a portionof the sheet of material 10 or 10b generally near the second end 22 or22b being formed over the closed lower end 54 of the flower pot 52.Also, it should be noted that the sheet of material 10 or 10a withoutthe sheet extension 34 or 34b can be applied to the outer peripheralsurface 57 of the flower pot 52 to provide a decorative flower potcover.

In an alternative embodiment, the pressure sensitive adhesive can beapplied to the flower pot for adhesively connecting the sheet ofmaterial to the flower pot.

Embodiment of FIG. 10

Shown in FIG. 10 is the sheet of material 10 or 10a having anothermodified sheet extension 34c connected thereto. The sheet of material 10or 10a is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 or 10adescribed before in connection with FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The sheetextension 34c is generally rectangularly shaped and has a rectangularlyshaped opening formed in a central portion thereof, the rectangularlyshaped opening formed in a central portion of the sheet extension 34cbeing defined in FIG. 10 by the rectangularly shaped line ofperforations 48c. The sheet extension 34c is connected to the outerperipheral surface of the sheet of material 10 or 10a generally at theline of perforations 48c so that the sheet extension 34c extendsoutwardly from the first side 16 or 16a, outwardly from the second side18 or 18a, outwardly from the first end 20 or 20a and outwardly from thesecond end 22 or 22a. A modified pressure sensitive adhesive 50c isapplied to a portion of the upper surface 36c of the sheet extension34c, the pressure sensitive adhesive 50c extending about the sheetextension 34c generally near the first side 40c, the second side 42c,the first end 44c and the second end 46c.

Utilizing the sheet of material 10 or 10a with the sheet extension 34cconnected thereto to cover the flower pot 52 and floral grouping 58shown in FIG. 9, the flower pot 52 is disposed generally in a centralportion of the sheet of material 10 or 10a so that the closed lower end54 of the flower pot 52 is disposed generally adjacent the pressuresensitive adhesive, the closed lower end 54 contacting the Pressuresensitive adhesive thereby bonding the closed lower end 54 to a centralportion of the sheet of material 10 or 10a. An individual then forms thesheet of material 10 or 10a upwardly about the outer peripheral surface57 of the flower pot 52 with the pressure adhesive sensitive beingdisposed generally adjacent and contacting the outer peripheral surface57 of the flower pot 52. As the individual forms the sheet of material10 or 10a about the outer peripheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52,the individual presses the sheet of material 10 or 10a generally againstthe outer peripheral surface of the flower pot 52 thereby bonding thesheet of material 10 or 10a to the outer peripheral surface 57 of theflower pot 52 by way of the pressure sensitive adhesive. When the sheetof material 10 or 10a has been wrapped and bonded about the outerperipheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52, the first side 16 or 16a,the second side 18 or 18a, the first end 20 or 20a and the second end 22or 22a each is disposed generally adjacent or extends a distance abovethe open upper end 56 of the flower pot 52.

After the sheet of material 10 or 10a has been connected to the outerperipheral surface 57 of the flower pot 52, the individual then formsthe sheet extension 34c generally about the upper end portion 60 of thefloral grouping 58 overlapping portions of the sheet extension 34cgenerally near the first side 40c, the second side 42c, the first end44c and the second end 46c, the overlapping portions being bonding orconnected together by way of the pressure sensitive adhesive 50c. Thus,the sheet of material 10 or 10a with the sheet extension 34c operates ina manner like that described in connection with FIG. 9 to provide adecorative cover for the flower pot 52 while simultaneously providing acovering for the upper end portion 60 of the floral grouping 58. When itis desired to remove the sheet extension 34c from the sheet of material10 or 10a, the individual disconnects the bond form at the overlappingportions by the pressure sensitive adhesive 50c and tears the sheetextension 34c from the sheet of material 10 or 10a by tearing generallyalong the line of perforations 48c.

Embodiment of FIG. 11

Shown in FIG. 11 is a package 70 which has an outer peripheral surface72. The sheet of material 10 or 10a is shown in FIG. 11 wrapped aboutthe outer peripheral surface 72 of the package 70 (the thickness of thesheet of material 10 or 10a being greatly exaggerated in FIG. 11). Inthis instance, the sheet of material 10 or 10a is used as a giftwrapping for the package 70 and thus the sheet of material 10 or 10aalso includes a decorative pattern, as mentioned before, applied to theupper and or the lower surface 12 or 12a or 14 or 14a, the decorativepattern being a color and/or an embossed pattern and/or other pattern orsurface ornamentation.

When the sheet of material 10 or 10a is utilized as a gift wrapping forthe package 70, it is preferable in some applications that the pressuresensitive adhesive 24 and or 26 be of a type which only will bond toitself. In this instance, when the sheet of material 10 or 10a iswrapped about the outer peripheral surface 72 of the package 70,portions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a will overlap therebyoverlapping portions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a having apressure sensitive adhesive 24 or 26 thereon and the overlappingportions of the sheet of material 10 or 10a having the pressuresensitive adhesive 24 or 26 thereon will bond to secure the sheet ofmaterial 10 or 10a in a wrapped position about the outer peripheralsurface 72 of the package 70. The sheet of material 10 or 10a will notbond to the outer peripheral surface 72 per se since the pressuresensitive adhesive 24 or 26 is of the type which only will bond toitself. Also, when the sheet of material 10 or 10a is utilized as a giftwrapping for packages such as the package 70, it is preferable that thesheet of material be constructed of the processed organic polymer filmreferred to before since this provides a decorative covering and alsoprovides a covering which will not easily tear when wrapped about theouter peripheral surface 72 of the package 70. Also, the sheet ofmaterial can be constructed of a foil or paper or cellophane if desiredin some applications.

Embodiment of FIG. 12

Shown in FIG. 12 is a modified sheet of material 10d which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 described before,except the sheet of material 10d has a pressure sensitive adhesive 76applied only to a portion of the upper surface 12d, the pressuresensitive adhesive 76 extending generally about the periphery of thesheet of material 10d and along the first side 16d, the second side 18d,the first end 20d and the second end 22d thereby leaving a substantialportion of the sheet of material 10d without any pressure sensitiveadhesive applied either to the upper surface 12d or the lower surface.This particular pattern may be desired in some applications, such asgift wrapping for packages as described before in connection with FIG.11 wherein the portion of the sheet of material 10d without the pressuresensitive applied either to the upper surface 12d or the lower surfaceis of a sufficient size to encompass the outer peripheral surface 72 ofthe package 70 and the overlapping portions generally along the firstsides 16d, the second side 18d, the first end 20d and the second end 22dwith the pressure sensitive adhesive 76 applied thereto bond thoseoverlapping portions to secure the sheet of material 10d in the wrappedposition about the outer peripheral surface 72 of the package 70. Yet,the pressure sensitive adhesive 76 does not contact and bond to theouter peripheral surface

Embodiment of FIG. 13

Shown in FIG. 13 is a roll of material 80 wherein the material in theroll is constructed exactly like the sheet of material 10 or 10adescribed in detail before. In this type of application it is importantto control the tackiness of the pressure sensitive adhesive 24 and or 26so that the material will be easily released from the roll withoutdestroying or damaging the surface of the adjacent material. In use, anindividual would tear sheets of material from the roll of material 80and the sheets of material torn from the roll of material 80 wouldoperate and would be used in a manner exactly like the sheets ofmaterial described before in connection with FIGS. 1 through 12. Theroll of material 80 simply provides a convenient means for storing anddispensing material which can constructed into a plurality of sheets ofmaterial by tearing the sheets of material from the roll of material 80.

The roll of material 80, in some applications, includes a plurality ofspaced apart lines of perforations such as the line of perforations 81shown in FIG. 13. The lines of perforations 81 permit the roll ofmaterial to be easily and conveniently torn into sheets of material.

Embodiment of FIG. 14

Shown in FIG. 14 is the roll of material 80 disposed in a container 100,the container 100 having a bottom 102 and opposite sides 104 and 106encompassing a roll retaining space 108. The roll of material 80, moreparticularly, is disposed in the roll retaining space 108 in thecontainer 100. The container 100 also has opposite ends (not shown inFIG. 14) connected to the sides 104 and 106 and cooperating with thesides 104 and 106 and the bottom 102 to substantially encompass the rollretaining space 108. The container 100 may also include a lid connectedto at least one of the sides 104 or 106 for closing the open upper endof the container 100. A cutter 110 is secured to the upper end of theside 106 and the cutter 110 extends generally along the entire length ofthe side 106.

In this application, the material is unrolled from the roll of material80 until the individual has unrolled the desired length of the materialand one surface of the material is disposed generally adjacent thecutter 110. The individual then forces the material against the cutter110 to cut the sheet of material from the roll of material. The sheet ofmaterial cut from the roll of material 80 is constructed exactly likethe sheets of material described herein and the container 100 simplyprovides a convenient means for storing the roll of material 80 anddispensing sheets of material therefrom.

The roll of material 80 could include a plurality of lines ofperforations for easily and conveniently tearing the sheets of materialfrom the roll of material 80. In this embodiment the cutter 110 could beeliminated.

Embodiment of FIG. 15

Shown in FIG. 15 is another container 120 having a bottom 122 andopposite sides 124 and 126. The bottom 122 and the opposite sides 124and 126 cooperate with opposite ends (not shown in FIG. 15) tosubstantially encompass a roll retaining space 128. The roll of material80 is shown in FIG. 15 disposed in the roll retaining space 128 of thecontainer 120.

A pair of rollers 130 and 132 are rolling supported on the container 100generally near the upper end of the side 126 and the rollers 130 and 132are generally aligned so that the outer peripheral surface of the roller130 engages the outer peripheral surface of the roller 132 generallyalong the length of the rollers 130 and 132. The roller 130 is connectedto a motor 134 and the motor 134 is adapted to rotate the roller 130 inan activated condition of the motor 134. When the motor 134 is drivinglythe rotating roller 130, the roller 132 also is rotated due to theengagement between the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 130 and132.

A cutting knife 136 also is supported on the container 120 and thecutting knife 136 is disposed generally above a cutting platform 138having an opening 140 extending through a portion thereof. The cuttingknife 136 is aligned with the opening 140 and the opening 140 is spacedto receive the cutting knife 136 during the operation.

Gear teeth 142 are formed along the portion of the cutting knife 136 anda gear 144 meshingly engages the gear teeth 142. The gear 144 isconnected to a motor 146 and, in an activated condition of the motor146, the motor 146 operates to rotatingly drive the gear 144 therebymoving the cutting knife 136 either in the direction 148 or 150depending on the direction of rotation of the motor 146. Preferably, themotor 146 is a reversible type of motor so that the motor 146 can drivethe gear 144 in both directions of rotation.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 15, only one motor could be utilized in lieu of the two motors 134and 146 and the single motor could be connected to the rollers 130 and132 and to the gear 144 with appropriate apparatus and controls forengaging and connecting the motor to either the roller 130 or the gear144.

In operation, a portion of the material from the roll of material 80 isextended between the outer peripheral surfaces of the two rollers 130and 132 and the motor 134 is activated to rotatingly drive the rollers130 and 132 thereby moving the material through the rollers 132 and 134in a direction 152. The motor 134 drives the rollers 130 and 132 movingthe sheet of material in the direction 152 until a predetermined ordesired length of material has been moved through the rollers 130 and132. After the predetermined or desired length of material has beenmoved through the rollers 130 and 132, the motor 134 is deactivated andthe motor 146 is activated to move the cutting knife 136 in thedirection 148, a cutting end of the cutting knife 136 engaging thematerial disposed thereunder and cutting the material as the cutting endportion of the cutting knife 136 moves through the opening 140 of theplatform 138. After the material has been cut by the cutting knife 136,the motor 146 is activated to rotate in the opposite direction therebymoving the cutting knife 136 in the upwardly direction 150 and theapparatus shown in FIG. 15 is condition to dispense another sheet ofmaterial from the roll of material 80.

The sheets of material cut from the roll of material 80 utilizing theapparatus shown in FIG. 15 are constructed exactly like the sheets ofmaterial described herein and the apparatus shown in FIG. 15 merelyprovides a convenient means for storing and dispensing such sheets ofmaterial.

Embodiment of FIG. 16

Shown in FIG. 16 is a container 150 having opposite sides 152 and 154,opposite ends (only one end being shown in FIG. 16) and a bottom 160.The sides 152 and 154 cooperate with the ends 156 and 158 and the bottom160 to encompass a roll retaining space 162. The roll of material 80 isshown in FIG. 16 disposed within the roll retaining space 162, portionsof the roll 80 being shown in dash lines in FIG. 16. A cutting edge 164is formed along the upper end of the side 154 and the cutting edge 164extends generally along the entire length of the side 154 generallybetween the opposite ends 156 and 158. The cutting edge 164 isconstructed exactly like the cutting edge 110 described before inconnection with FIG. 14.

A brush applicator 166 is connected to the side 154 of the container 150generally near the upper end of the side 154 and generally adjacent oneend of the container 150. The brush applicator 166 comprises anapplicator container 168 having an open upper end and surroundingadhesive reservoir, a quantity of pressure sensitive adhesive beingdisposed in the adhesive reservoir in the applicator container 168. Aplurality of brushes 170 are disposed through the open end of theapplicator container 168 and one end of the brushes 170 is disposed inthe pressure sensitive adhesive contained in the adhesive reservoirformed in the applicator container 168. The opposite ends of the brushes170 extend a distance outwardly from the open upper end of theapplicator container 168. The applicator container 168 is positioned onthe container 150 so that the brushes 170 are positioned near thecutting edge 164 and positioned so that one end portion of the brushes170 can engage material for applying the pressure sensitive adhesive tosuch material.

In operation, an individual pulls material from the roll of material 80outwardly through the open upper end of the container 150, the brushes170 engaging and applying pressure sensitive adhesive generally alongone side of the material as the material is being unrolled from the rollof material 80. The individual then pulls the material in a direction172 until the individual has pulled a predetermined or desired amount ofthe material from the roll of material 80, the pressure sensitiveadhesive being applied to one surface of the material generally alongone edge of the material as the material is being unrolled from the rollof material 80 and pulled in the direction 172. After the individual hasmoved the material in the direction 172 until a desired length ofmaterial has been removed from the roll of material 80, the individualthen tears the material generally along the cutting edge 164 therebyforming a sheet of material constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and having pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface thereofgenerally along one edge thereof which was applied by the brushes 170 asthe material was being removed from the roll of material.

It should be noted that the brushes 170 could extend generally along theentire length of the upper edge of the side 152 generally between theopposite ends of the container 150 for applying pressure sensitiveadhesive across substantially the entire surface of the material as thematerial is being removed from the roll of material 80. Also, aduplicate set of brushes and another applicator container could bedisposed near the opposite end so that a strip of pressure sensitiveadhesive is applied to both sides of the material as the material isbeing passed over the two brushes if desired in some applications.

Also, it should be noted that brushes like the brushes 170 and anapplicator container like the applicator container 168 could beincorporated in the container 120 shown in FIG. 15 for applying adhesiveto the material as the material is being unrolled from the roll ofmaterial 80.

In one other embodiment, the rubber rollers 130 and 132 each are adaptedto apply pressure sensitive adhesive to the material as it is beingmoved through the rollers 130 and 132 thereby applying pressuresensitive adhesive to both sides of the sheet of material as thematerial is being moved in the direction 152 through the rollers 130 and132 or, in an alternative embodiment, only one of the rollers 130 or 132can be adapted to apply pressure sensitive adhesive to the adjacentsurface of the material as the material is being moved in the direction152 through the rollers 130 and 132 thereby applying pressure sensitiveadhesive to either the upper or the lower surface of the materialdepending on whether the roller 130 or 132 is adapted to apply thepressure sensitive adhesive.

It also should be noted that the adhesive could be applied with a sprayapplicator. Also, a dip coating system or a static depositing systemcould be utilized to apply the adhesive.

Embodiment of FIGS. 17 and 18

Shown in FIGS. 17 is a modified sheet of material 10f which isconstructed exactly like the sheet of materials described before, exceptthe sheet of material 10f includes a pressure sensitive adhesive 200applied to a portion of the lower surface 14f generally adjacent andextending about a peripheral edge 202 thereby leaving a centralnon-adhesive portion 204 which has no pressure sensitive adhesive.

Shown in FIG. 18 is a typical, commercially available Easter basket 210which includes a handle 212. The handle 212 extends from an open upperend 214 of the Easter basket 210 and provides a grippable extension soan individual can grip the handle 212 and transport the Easter basket210.

The Easter basket 210 is placed in a central portion of the sheet ofmaterial 10f, the non-adhesive portion 204. The sheet of material 10fthen is wrapped over the Easter basket 210 and the handle 212 to aposition wherein the peripheral edge 202 of the sheet of material 10f isdisposed generally above an upper end portion 214 of the handle 212. Theportion of the sheet of material 10f generally near and including theperipheral edge 202 then is pressed together in a manner bringingtogether the portions of the sheet of material 10f having the adhesive200 thereon so the portions of the sheet of material 10f generally nearthe peripheral edge 202 are adhesively connected to close the peripheraledge 202 and connect the sheet of material 10f about the Easter basket201 and handle 212. The peripheral edge 202 portion of the sheet ofmaterial 10f also could be twisted to adhesively connect the portions ofthe sheet of material near the peripheral edge 202.

Although the basket 210 has been described as an Easter basket, thebasket 210 could be a fruit basket or any other type of basket designedto hold items until further, the sheets of material described herein,particularly the sheet of material 10f, could be used to wrap otheritems such as bread. Further, although the sheet of material 10f isshown in the drawing as being in a square or rectangular configuration,the sheet of material could be circular or any other appropriateconfiguration.

Changes may be made in the various parts, elements and assemblies asdescribed herein or in the steps of the methods described herein or inthe sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

I claim:
 1. A method for packaging an item;providing a sheet of materialhaving a first end and a second end, an upper surface and a lowersurface, the sheet of material having a pressure sensitive adhesive onat least a portion of the upper surface; providing a floral groupinghaving a flower end and a stem end, the floral grouping comprising theitem; and wrapping the sheet of material about the floral grouping witha portion of the sheet of material overlapping other portions of thesheet of material and bonding the overlapping portions of the sheet ofmaterial by contacting the pressure sensitive adhesive on the sheet ofmaterial with adjacent overlapping portions of the sheet of materialwhereby the sheet of material is bonded to the overlapping portions ofthe sheet of material generally between the first and the second ends ofthe sheet of material and with the sheet of material substantiallyencompassing and surrounding a substantial portion of the stem end ofthe floral grouping and being held about the floral grouping by thebonding of the overlapping portions of the sheet of material, the sheetof material wrapped about the floral grouping forming a wrapping havingan opening extending through an upper end thereof and the flower end ofthe floral grouping being exposed near the opening in the upper endthereof.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet of material isconstructed of a material selected from a group of materials consistingof a foil, cellophane or a processed organic polymer film or combinationthereof.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing thesheet of material is defined further as providing the sheet of materialhaving a thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mils to about 20mils.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheetof material is defined further as providing the sheet of material havinga thickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mils to about 2.5 mils.5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the sheet ofmaterial is defined further to include the steps of:providing a roll ofmaterial; unrolling material from the roll of material until apredetermined amount of material has been unrolled from the roll ofmaterial; and cutting the unrolled material from the roll of material toprovide the sheet of material.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the stepof providing the sheet of material is defined further to include thesteps of:providing a roll of material; unrolling material from the rollof material until a predetermined amount of material has been unrolledfrom the roll of material; and cutting the unrolled material from theroll of material to provide the sheet of material.
 7. A method forpackaging an item, comprising the steps of:providing a sheet of materialhaving a first end and a second end, an upper surface and a lowersurface, the sheet of material having a pressure sensitive adhesive atleast on the upper surface of the sheet of material; providing a floralgrouping having a stem end and a flower end, the floral groupingcomprising the item; and wrapping the sheet of material about the floralgrouping with a portion of the sheet of material overlapping otherportions of the sheet of material and bonding the overlapping portionsof the sheet of material by contacting the pressure sensitive adhesiveon the sheet of material with adjacent overlapping portions of the sheetof material whereby the sheet of material is bonded to overlappingportions of the sheet of material generally between the first and thesecond ends of the sheet of material and whereby there are no looseflaps formed by the unbonded portions of the sheet of material, and withthe sheet of material substantially encompassing and surrounding asubstantial portion of the flower end of the floral grouping and asubstantial portion of the stem end of the floral grouping and beingheld about the floral grouping by the bonding of the overlappingportions of the sheet of material, the sheet of material being tightlywrapped about the stem end of the floral grouping, the sheet of materialwrapped about the floral grouping forming a wrapping having an openingextending through an upper end thereof with the flower end of the floralgrouping being exposed near the opening in the upper end thereof, theupper end of the wrapping being loosely wrapped about the flower end ofthe floral grouping.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the sheet ofmaterial is constructed of a material selected from the group ofmaterials consisting of a foil, cellophane or a processed organicpolymer film or combinations thereof.
 9. The method of claim 8 whereinthe step of providing the sheet of material is defined further asproviding the sheet of material having a thickness in a range from lessthan about 1.0 mils to about 2.5 mils.
 10. The method of claim 7 whereinthe step of providing the sheet of material is defined further asproviding the sheet of material having a thickness in a range from lessthan about 1.0 mils to about 20 mils.
 11. A method for packaging anitem, comprising the steps of:providing a sheet of material having afirst end and a second end, an upper surface and a lower surface, thesheet of material having a pressure sensitive adhesive at least on aportion of the upper surface of the sheet of material; providing afloral grouping having a flower end and a stem end, the floral groupingcomprising the item; and wrapping the sheet of material about the floralgrouping with a portion of the sheet of material overlapping otherportions of the sheet of material and bonding the overlapping portionsof the sheet of material by contacting the pressure sensitive adhesiveon the sheet of material with adjacent overlapping portions of the sheetof material whereby the sheet of material is bonded to the overlappingportions of the sheet of material so that there are substantially noloose flaps formed by unbonded portions of the sheet of material, andwith the sheet of material substantially encompassing and surrounding asubstantial portion of the flower end of the floral grouping and asubstantial portion of the stem end of the floral grouping and beingheld about the floral grouping by bonding the overlapping portions ofthe sheet of material, the sheet of material wrapped about the floralgrouping forming a wrapping having an opening extending through an upperend thereof with the flower end of the floral grouping being exposednear the opening in the upper end thereof, the upper end of the wrappingbeing loosely wrapped about the flower end of the floral grouping. 12.The method of claim 11 wherein the sheet of material is constructed of amaterial selected from the group of materials consisting of a foil,cellophane or a processed organic polymer film or combinations thereof.13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing the sheet ofmaterial is defined further as providing the sheet of material having athickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mils to about 20 mils. 14.The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing the sheet ofmaterial is defined further as providing the sheet of material having athickness in a range from less than about 1.0 mils to about 2.5 mils.15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing the sheet ofmaterial is defined further to include the steps of:providing a roll ofmaterial; unrolling material from the roll of material until apredetermined amount of material has been unrolled from the roll ofmaterial; and cutting the unrolled material from the roll of material toprovide the sheet of material.